Before the DCU Kicks Off, James Gunn Jabs at Marvel: “I’d Rather Not Do Homework to Follow Everything”

Even the biggest Marvel enthusiasts might admit that keeping up with the ocean of content feels a bit like doing homework. James Gunn is eager to steer clear of that with his fresh approach to the DC Universe.

After several tumultuous years at DC where films failed to coalesce into a unified cinematic universe, next week marks the debut of Creature Commandos. This project not only represents the first release under Gunn’s leadership at DC Studios but also the launch of the new DCU. The transition from the old DCU, however, still leaves many questions unanswered. In a recent chat with Collider, just ahead of Creature Commandos’ release, Gunn shed some light on what’s considered canon and how he feels about having to watch every piece of a cinematic universe.

When pressed about whether The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker will be part of the new DCU canon—as Peacemaker’s second season will be—Gunn clarified, “Peacemaker is straightforward. Season 1 is mainly canon, aside from the Justice League’s appearance at the end. Look for some reference to that in Season 2. Suicide Squad, on the other hand, is a bit more flexible.

He continued, “For instance, we know Rick Flag Sr. harbors resentment because Peacemaker killed his son, which is something we can anchor on, as it’s referenced in Creature Commandos. That part exists in canon not just because of The Suicide Squad but also because it comes up in Creature Commandos.”

Gunn also shared his appreciation for what DC offers, telling Collider, “A lot about DC’s charm for me lies in the world-building, not just the narratives. I don’t envision the DCU as a single story stretched over movies and TV shows focused on one primary antagonist. I, as a viewer, don’t want to feel like I need to consume everything to stay in the loop. It’s more about a woven universe present in one domain, the DCU, which will vary based on the artists, directors, and designers involved in each project.”

Most of us remember Gunn as the director of all three Guardians of the Galaxy movies for Marvel, with the third drawing directly from Avengers: Endgame’s aftermath. This seems like a slight jab at Marvel, and rightly so; there’s an overwhelming amount of content to sift through to keep up.

Under Gunn’s guidance, DC Studios promises a diverse lineup, with prominent films centered on Superman, Batman, Supergirl, and the Teen Titans, along with series like Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, Lanterns, and Booster Gold. The Elseworlds stories also add a unique flavor, such as The Batman 2 and the intriguingly unconventional Robins film, melding CGI, stop-motion, and live-action elements. One thing’s clear: Gunn definitely isn’t shy about exploring a variety of creative directions.